Electrically powered tethered toy



May 14, 1968 N. c. NEANHOUSE v ELECTRICALLY POWERED TETHERED TOY Filed NOV. 26, 1965 m/mvmz 4/127? J. 4 52 ie i ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLGSURE A motorized electric Yo-Yo is described in which an electric motor and thumb-operated switch are used to cause a suspended rubber ball to duplicate the rhythmic rising and falling motions of a conven ional Yo-Yo.

This invention relates generally to childrens toys, and more particularly to the adaption of motor power to simulate the action of a variety toy commonly known as the Yo-Yo.

For generations children have played with the type of spinning top known as the Yo-Yo. This device commonly consists of a pair of disks joined by a central shaft to comprise a bobbin around which a string or cord is wound. By casting the bobbin downward while grasping the free end of the cord, the Yo-Yo is caused to spin as it descends, thereby imparting a degree of gyroscopic stabilization. As the bobbin reaches the end of its travel the inertia created by the downward thrust causes it to rewind itself in the opposite direction, carrying it back up the cord to the hand of the user.

The use of the conventional YoYo, however, requires a degree of skill and coordination which is not present in all children, especially younger ones. Yet the attraction of such a toy, with its rhythmic rising and falling motions, is nevertheless present for children of all ages.

Therefore, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a toy which is easily used by younger children which duplicates the rhythmic rising and falling action of a conventional Yo-Yo.

Another object is to provide a toy of the above description which uses a motorized source of power which may be held in the hand of the user and manually controlled.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following description and upon reference to the drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective of the toy of the present invention as it would appear in the hand of the user;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the toy of the present invention with a portion of the cover broken away to expose the inner details;

FIG. 3 is a section taken through the plane 33 of FIG. 2, and

FIG. 4 is a schematic circuit diagram of the circuitry of the present invention.

While the invention will be described in connection with a preferred embodiment, it will be understood that I do not intend to limit the invention to that embodiment, but intend to cover all alternatives and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Turning first to FIGURE 1, there is shown the toy of the present invention in operating position in the hand of a user. It has an outer case 10 of a convenient size to be held in the users hand, and is positioned for use with a depending cord 11 and attached ball 12 oriented in the downward direction. A thumb switch 13 is provided to effect the operation of the toy.

Within the case 10 is mounted a small D-C electric motor 15 which is powered by a pair of penlight dry-cell batteries 16. The batteries are retained by a battery bracket 17 which is provided with spring clips 18 to hold the batteries securely but removably. In the illustrated embodi- States Patent ment, the motor 15 and battery bracket 17 are secured to the case 10 by rivets 19, although any suitable fastening means may be employed. For easy access to batteries and other internal components, the case 16 is split longitudinally and is openable about a hinge 26. A latch 21 is provided to releasably hold the case 10 in the closed position.

A bobbin 22 is rotatably coupled to and driven by the motor 15. One end of the cord 11 is secured to the bobbin 22 so that rota ion of the motor 15 will cause the cord 11 to be wound about the bobbin, thereby drawing the ball 12 upwards toward the hand of the user. To protect the cord'ii from chafing against the edge of the case 10, a grommet 23 is provided through which the cord 11 passes. Secured to the top of the case 10 is a wire finger loop 24 through which the user may insert one finger in order to more securely grasp the toy.

In the preferred embodiment, the ball 12 is constructed of soft, resilient material such as rubber. In this way damage to the case 10 is avoided should the ball impact against it, and excessive strain on the cord 11 is also avoided.

In accordance with the invention, the toy is operated by selective actuation of the switch 13 by the user. When the switch 13 is closed, the motor 15 is energized from the battery 16 and causes the bobbin 22 to turn, drawing the cord 11 and depending ball 12 upwards. When the switch 13 is then released, the motion of the ball 12 reverses because the bobbin is free to unwind as the ball 12 is drawn downwards under its own weight. The rate of fall of the ball 12 is slightly retarded by the friction and inertia of the bobbin 22 and the rotating armature of the motor 15, and approximates the rate of rise when the motor 15 is energi ed. It may be seen, therefore, that by rhythmic manipulation of the switch 13 the user may cause the ball 12 to alternately rise and fall in a pattern which closely resembles the motion of a conventional spinning Yo-Yo in the hands of a skilled operator.

I claim as my invention:

1. A motorized toy comprising. in combination, a case, an electric motor mounted in said case, a source of electrical energy for said motor, circuit means including a manually operated momentary contact switch for energizing said motor from said source of energy, said switch having a momentary position in which said motor is energized for rotation in a winding direction and a normal position in which said motor is de-energized, a bobbin rotatably connected to said motor, a cord windably coupled to said bobbin and depending from said case. and a suspended object attached to the end of said cord, whereby said suspended object may be selectively drawn towards said case and released by selective operation of said switch.

2. The motorized toy of claim 1 in which said source of energy and said manually operated switch are mounted to said case.

3. The motorized toy of claim 1 in which said motor is electrically powered and said source of energy comprises an electrical battery.

4. The motorized toy of claim 1 in which said suspended object is constructed of soft, resilient material.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2.848.236 8/1958 Gibson 27358 3,030,733 4/1962 Crawford 46--243 3,168,312 2/1965 Davis 27358 LOUIS G. MANCENE, Primary Examiner.

F. BARRY SHAY, Examiner.

R. F. CUTTING, Assistant Examiner. 

